Salyut 7

Russia's answer to America's Gravity. The Russians are certainly not doing badly at all. Technically they're excellent, the acting is decent too, and there are a few tense scenes. But there was something missing for a higher rating for me. A solid 65% (04.01.2018)

You learn so many new things that I would have never believed before. I wasn't aware of this event, and while the film is somewhat inflated with a lot of alterations, the essence remains the same. I wouldn’t have expected the Russians to venture into space-themed films, and I was a bit skeptical, but that was disproven within the first few minutes. For a reasonable budget, the filmmakers got the maximum out of the minimum; visually, there's not much to improve—everything runs like a Swiss watch. At times, it's impressive how skillfully the creators tackled this theme, as the film also offers a solid atmosphere complemented by booming music, with a few moments that will stick in my mind for a long time. The acting is surprisingly good as well. Sometimes, the behavior of the main characters annoyed me a bit, as some decisions seemed unnecessary and rushed at the moment, but then I realized that I could calmly think through each step from the comfort of my chair, while they had to make decisions in orbit. It’s clear that nerves might have played a role at times. It’s not worth a perfect score, but within this genre, it does not embarrass itself; on the contrary, it outshines a few Hollywood films. I give it 82%. (13.04.2018)

Visually, Salyut 7 was made very well. I also liked the narrative style supported by the appropriate musical accompaniment. It was really suspenseful at times, subtly touching, and also a bit funny. However, I would expect the Russians to avoid having an American-style ending. (75%) (17.02.2022)